Between 2002-2012, Ms. Carter created four original one-woman shows using themes that touch the human core. Her unique style blended modern dance with gesture, comedy, text, and music. The result was an eclectic experience brought together into a seamless whole. Her work has been supported by the Kittredge Fund, Gardner Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and Wells Fargo.
.
THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE MISFIT 2012
Little Misfit doesn’t fit in. From golf lessons, music lessons to cooking school her antics and mischievous charm put her at odds wherever she goes. Little Misfit must find her way as we discover that there’s a place for everyone and everyone has a place! Combining modern dance, music and theatre, this humorous coming-of-age story touches your heart and tickles your funny bone.
Tenth Street Theatre, 628 North 10th Street/Milwaukee, June 8, 9, 10, 2012.
Featuring Susanne Carter and Chris Flieller. Directed by Jane Flieller. Set design Linda Freund. Lighting design Colin Gawronski. Illustrations Michael DiMilo. Photography by Troy Freund.
Check out THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE MISFIT video on the Carter Productions Video Gallery page.
.
YES, WE CAN CAN DANCERS 2009
ALL-CITY People’s Parade and Pageant gave voice to the concerns of the community with dance, puppets, floats, masks, clown skills, artisans and everyday people as volunteers. The theme was to promote understanding and respect for all races, religions, cultures and abilities. Carter Productions with choreography by Susanne Carter worked with a group of dancers from the community to create the YES, WE CAN CAN DANCERS. The project was in conjunction with Barbara Leigh and Milwaukee Public Theatre and Max Samson of the Milwaukee Mask and Puppet Theatre. Labor Day, 2009.
Zeidler Union Square Park to Summerfest grounds, Milwaukee. September 7, 2009.
Dancers: Shirah Apple, Tamara Gibbs, Dawn Green, Katie Hassemer, Alison Hoop, Thea Kovac, Darlene LaMar, Sharon Lerman, Claire Moore, Heide Planey, Sherry Wagner.
Check out the YES, WE CAN CAN DANCERS on video on the Carter Productions Video Gallery page. Video by Derek Keyseki.
.
ImproScaping 2006
ImproScaping comes from the process used to create this performance – dance improvisations based on body image to create a visual landscape. This visual experience recalls Susanne’s relationship with her body image over time. The images are molded into improvisational choreography using concepts rather than steps to create a strong physicality. ImproScaping combines costumes, props, and a musical score with humorous recorded anecdotes about body weight, bikinis, hair, and left and right sides of the body. Interviews in the sound score included Susanne’s chiropractor, photographer, hairdresser, and ballet teacher.
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee. November 12, 19, 2006
UW-Milwaukee Union Ballroom, 2200 East Kenwood Avenue, March 31, 2007.
ImproScaping toured in 2008 to the Indianapolis and Kansas City Missouri Fringe Festivals to good reviews.
Costumes, Vanessa Andrews. Jazz Guitar, Paul Carter. Sound score, Dan Gnader. Photos, Troy Freund.
.
DANCING SPIRIT 2005
Dancing Spirit was a grass roots community endeavor connecting dance with spirituality. This intergenerational celebration was created to ignite and unite! As the community dances, stories unfold and songs are sung, and drums are heard as a way to celebrate life and touch the human core. This project was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.
First Unitarian Church 1342 North Astor Street, October 22, 2005.
Directed by Susanne Carter in collaboration with the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee.
“An unusual performance called Dancing Spirit: The Community Dances features people of all ages doing choreographed and improvised dances to create an expressive program on creativity and inspiration.” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
.
SEARCHING FOR FRANCES 2004
The story of how George and Frances Mathews met and fell in love in wartime USA, 1942. Inspired by her own family, Susanne created eight enduring characters who unveil secrets in the life of Frances Mathews. Blending modern dance with text and gesture a memorable story is told reminiscent of a by-gone era with music of the 30s and 40s.
Theatre 1661 at Danceworks, 1661 North Water Street, Milwaukee, November 14, 21, 2004. American Legion, 13 Legion Place, Whippany, NJ, June 18th, 2005.
Sound score Dan Gnader, Video projections Sean Kafer, Costume consultant Suzi Pikofsky.
This performance was toured to Senior Citizen Living Communities in the Milwaukee Metro Community.
.
WELCOME TO MY MIDLIFE CRISIS! 2002
Welcome to My Mid-Life Crisis! 2002 SUSANNE CARTER’S FIRST ONE WOMAN SHOW MADE POSSIBLE BY John Anson Kittridge Educational Fund and the Gardner Foundation. PRODUCED BY CARTER PRODUCTIONS.
A sexy, zany, whimsical and hilarious look into one woman’s search for her lost libido. Susanne, with tongue-in-cheek, discovers the dilemma caused by examining the good and not so flattering aspects to her own persona. Using thirteen unique scenarios, she creates pathos in comedy and tragedy. The score is inspired by personal events: empty nest, aging parents, onset of menopause. Using music, dance, stand-up comedy, pantomime, monologues, and text a theatrical extravaganza unfolds. A sound score weaves interviews taken from local citizens as a back drop to the show. In a workshop conducted at the UW-Milwaukee Outreach Extension members of the community developed autobiographical movement phases. These phases were included in the closing scenes. The project was supported by the John Anson Kittredge Educational Fund and the Gardner Foundation.
Alverno College, 3400 South 43rd Street, Milwaukee, April 26, 27, 2002. Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 911 West National Avenue, August 7, 8, 9, 2003. UW-Milwaukee 2200 East Kenwood Avenue, Milwaukee, November 13, 2003. Windhover Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan Street, Fond du Lac, November 29, 2003.
Sound score Dan Gnader. Light design Kurt Schnabel and Chris Flieller. Prop Artist Sally Duback. Costumes Suzie Pikofsky. Marketing Ellen Ash and Tammy Colavecchi.
.
SANCTUARY SUITE 1998
Sanctuary Suite, uses dance as part of a worship service with themes of personal struggle while using movement as a spiritual expression. Dance can express what words cannot express. It can communicate a mood or feeling which does not always translate into language. The title of the pieces express the theme of the dance.
Searching for Meaning Solo performed by Susanne Carter. The solo uses movement patterns that are improvised. Each pattern is organized into selected areas of the sanctuary space. The purpose of the dance is to create a patchwork of life: past, present, future. The dancer recites a simple monologue as if talking out loud. Sometimes the words contrast the movement creating a humorous tension.
Broken Dreams a duet performed by Cindy Byrne, Deb Solis. This piece explored dreams, goals and visions, not as they are being formed but at the moment they are broken. The dancers turn, echo each other’s phases, criss-cross through space, stand on their props (bar stools) and carry them around until the climactic ending where they join in union.
Finding our Place in the Tribe performed by members of First Church. The performers are a microcosm of the church’s population. It enthusiastically uses all of the church space in a spirit of celebration. Through connecting, weaving, and intertwining with our tribe, our posse, we find our own power and place in the tribe.
First Unitarian Church, 1342 North Astor Street, November 8, 1998. Directed by Susanne Carter in collaboration with the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee.
.